Ex  Libris 
\   C.  K.  OGDEN 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


POEMS  IN  HONOR   OF 
FRANCIS  BACON 


A  TRANSLATION  OF 
THIRTY-TWO  LATIN  POEMS 

IN  HONOR  OF 

FRANCIS  BACON 

PUBLISHED  BY  RAWLEY 

IN  1626 


BOSTON 
PRIVATELY  PRINTED 

1904 


THE  following  translation  of  the  Rawley-Bacon 
poems  is  from  the  text  in  Harleian  Miscellany,  x, 
pp.  287  ff.,  London,  1813,  a  reprint  of  the  editio 
princeps  by  John  Haviland,  London,  1626. 

Attention  has  also  been  paid  to  an  article  by 
H.  Meurer,  Texfkritik  und  Beitrdge  zur  Erklarung 
von  "  Die  Rawley' sclie  Sammlung  von  32  Trauerge- 
dichten  auf  Francis  Bacon,  herausgegeben  von 
George  Cantor,  Halle,  1897,"  in  Anglia  24  (1901) 
pp.  100  ff .  In  this  article  Meurer  offers  a  criticism 
of  Cantor's  text,  which  was  taken  from  the  Harleian 
Miscellany  (=A),  with  comparison  of  the  edition  of 
Bacon  by  John  Blackbourne,  London,  1730  (=B), 
and  gives  for  various  passages  the  readings  of  the 
original  Haviland  edition,  besides  those  of  A.  and 
B.  He  incorporates  also  (p.  112)  the  criticisms  in  a 
review  of  Cantor's  edition  by  Hermann  Hagen  in 
Lit.  Centralblatt,  1897,  p.  1530. 

Of  no  significance  for  the  text  is  the  edition,  with 
introduction,  by  Edwin  Bormann:  Der  historische 
Beweis  der  Bacon-  Shakespeare -Theorie  erbracht 
durch  das  Zeugniss  von  siebenundzwanzig  Zeitge- 
nossen  des  Dichter-  Gelehrten,  Leipzig,  1897. 


[6] 

The  most  convenient  and  least  expensive  recent 
edition  is  that  of  Cantor  referred  to  above,  as  cor- 
rected by  Hagen  and  Meurer,  —  G.  Cantor:  Die 
Rawley*  sche  Sammlung  von  zweiunddreissig  Trau- 
ergedicJiten  auf  Francis  Bacon,  ein  Zeugniss  zu 
Gunsten  der  Bacon  -  Shakespeare  -  Theorie,  Halle, 
1897.  The  same  author  had  previously  published  a 
translation  of  the  thirty-second  poem  in  his  Resur- 
rectio  Dim  Quirini  Francisci  Baconi,  Halle,  1896. 

E.  K.  BAND. 

HARVARD  UNIVEBSITT,  1903. 


MANES  VERULAMIANI 


[8] 


Memoriae  Honoratissimi  Domini  Francisci, 

Earonis    De    Verulamio,     Vice-Comitis     Sancti 

Albani,  Sacrum. 

Londini  In  Officina  Johannis  Haviland,  1626. 


[9] 


[Harl.  Misc.  x,  p.  287.] 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of  the  Most  Honorable  Sir, 
Francis  Baron  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban. 

London,  at  the  press  of  John  Haviland,  1626. 


[10] 

Franciscus  Bacon  Baro  De  Verulam  S.u  Alb.ni  Vie.™ 

Seu  Notioribus  Titulis 

Scientiarum  Lumen,  Facundice  Lex 

Sic  Sedebat. 


Qui  Postquam  Omnia  Naturalis  Sapientice 

Et  Civilis  Arcana  Evolvisset 

Naturae  Decretum  Explevit 

Composita  Solvantur 

An."  Dm  MDC.  XXVI. 

Aetat^LXVL 

Tanti  Viri 

mem. 

l/ 

Thomas  Meautys 

Superstitis  Cultor 

Defuncti  Admirator 

H.P. 


[11] 

1  Francis  Bacon  Baron  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban, 

Or  by  titles  still  better  known, 

The  Light  of  the  Sciences,  the  Norm  of  Eloquence, 

Thus  took  his  rest. 


He,  after  that  he  had  unfolded  all  the  secrets 

Of  natural  and  civic  lore,2 

Fulfilled  the  decree  of  Nature 

(Let  his  frame  now  dissolve) 3 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  MDCXXVI. 

At  the  age  of  LXVL 

To  the  Memory 

Of  so  great  a  Man 

Thomas  Meautys 

Friend  of  the  Living 

Admirer  of  the  Dead 

Has  set  this  Monument. 


1  Translation  of  the  inscription  on  the  marble  erected  by  Sir  Thomas 
Meautys  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Michel's  Church,  Old  Verulam. 

8  i.  e.  of  philosophy  and  jurisprudence. 

3  composita  solvantur.  Composita,  'his  united,  ordered  parts,'  i.  e.  'his 
frame.'  Or  (cf.  Horace's  omnes  composui,  Sat.  i.  9,  28)  '  his  buried 
remains.'  Possibly  solvantur— 'be  released,'  i.  e.  at  the  resurrection. 


[12] 

Lectori  S. 

Quod  praecipium  sibi  duxit  honoratissimus  Dominus  meus, 
Vice-Comes  Sancti  Albani,  academiis  et  viris  literatioribus  ut 
cordi  esset,  id  (credo)  obtinuit ;  quandoquidem  insignia  hsec 
amoris  et  moestitioe  monumenta  indicant,  quantum  amissio 
ejus  eorundem  cordi  doleat.  Neque  verb  parca  manu  sym- 
bolum  hoc  conjecerunt  in  eum  musse ;  (plurimos  enim,  eosque 
optimos  versus  apud  me  contineo;)  sed  quia  ipse  mole  non 
delectabatur,  molem  baud  magnam  extrusi.  Satis  etiam  sit, 
ista  veluti  fundamenta,  prasentis  saeculi  nomine,  jecisse ;  fa- 
bricam  (puto)  hanc  exornabit  et  amplificabit  unumquodque 
saeculum;  cuinam  autem  sseculo  ultimam  manum  imponere 
datum  sit,  id  Deo  tantum  et  fatis  manifestum. 

G.  RAWLEY,  S.  T.  D. 


[13] 

To  the  Reader. 

That  which  my  most  honored  Master,  the  Viscount  St.  Alban, 
thought  of  the  highest  concern,  namely  to  win  the  favor  of 
Academies  and  Men  of  Letters,  this,  methinks,  he  has  ob- 
tained. For  the  present  illustrious  memorials  of  love  and 
grief  indicate  how  great  a  sorrow  his  loss  has  brought  to  the 
hearts  of  such.  No,  verily,  the  Muses  have  not  thrown  to 
him 1  this  contribution  2  with  sparing  hand  —  for  very  many 
verses,  and  those  most  excellent  ones,  I  keep  in  my  posses- 
sion.3 But  as  he  himself  delighted  not  in  piles  of  things, 
no  great  pile  have  I  raised.  Be  this,  moreover,  enough,  to 
have  laid,  as  it  were,  the  foundations,  in  the  name  of  the 
present  age.  Every  age,  methinks,  will  adorn  and  amplify 
this  structure :  though  to  what  age  it  is  vouchsafed  to  set 
the  finishing  hand  —  this  is  known  only  to  God  and  to  the 

Fates. 

G.  RAWLET,  S.  T.  D. 


1  conjecerunt  in  eum  :  probably  the  idea  is,  '  heaped  upon  his  grave.'  See 
Meurer,  p.  108. 

a  symbolum :  probably,  as  Meurer  shows  (p.  108),  with  the  meaning  of 
symbola,  ae,  '  a  scot,  or  contribution  to  a  feast.'  It  is  a  kind  of  sympo- 
sium. Or,  the  word  may  have  its  ordinary  meaning  of  '  token.'  It  has 
no  arcane  connotation,  such  as  Bormann  (p.  10)  reads  into  it. 

8  A  consolation  for  those  contributors  whose  verses  were  too  bad  to 
publish. 


[14] 


Deploratio  Obitiis  omnia  doctissimi  et  clarissimi 
Viri  D.  Francisci  Bacon  S.  Albanensis. 

Albani  plorate  lares,  tuque  optime  martyr, 
Fata  Vendamii  non  temeranda  senis. 
Optime  martyr  et  in  veteres  i  tu  quoque  luctus, 
Cui  nil  post  cliruni  tristius  amphibalum. 


[15] 


Lament  for  the  Death  of  the  all-learned  and  eminent 
Man,  Sir *  Francis  Bacon  of  St.  Alban. 

Mourn,  ye  Alban  Lares,  and  thou  good  Martyr,2  the  hallowed 
demise  3  of  the  old  man  of  Verulam.  Aye,  good  Martyr,  raise 
thou  too  the  old  lament,  to  whom  nothing  has  been  sadder, 
next  to  thy  dire  cloak.4 


1  I  take  Dominus  here  and  in  most  of  the  headings  to  denote  the  title 
'  Sir '  given  to  a  B.  A.  of  Cambridge.  (See  Cent.  Diet.  s.  v.  dominus 
and  sir.)  This  whole  collection  of  poems  is  a  kind  of  bouquet  from 
Cambridge,  especially  Trinity  College,  from  which  Bacon  was  grad- 
uated. '  Lord '  however,  is  a  possible  translation,  as  Bacon  was  Lord 
Chancellor.  Or,  again,  the  Sir  may  refer  to  his  knighthood. 

J  St.  Alban,  protomartyr  of  England. 

3  fata  non  temeranda,  lit.  '  the  fate  which  none  may  desecrate.'     Fatum 

has  its  ordinary  meaning,  yet  appears  also  to  connote  sepulcrum,  the 
tomb,  its  outer  sign.  The  phrase  is  practically  equivalent  to  cineres 
sacros  in  Poem  4,  near  end. 

4  Alban  exchanged  his  cloak  with  that  of  a  fugitive  Christian,  who  thus 
escaped   his   pursuers,  whereas  Alban  was  martyred  by  them.     The 
story  is  told  by  Gildas  and  Bede.     See  Baring  Gould,  Lives  of  the 
Saints,  June  22. 


[16] 
II 

Baconi  Opera  liter  aria  vocantur  ad  Rogum. 

Instauratio  magna ;  dicta  acute ; 
Augmentum  geminum  scientiarum, 
Et  scriptum  patrie  et  dein  Latine 
Auctu  multiplici,  profunda  vitse 
Mortisque  historia,  ut  lita  anne  lota 
Rivo  nectaris  Atticive  mellis ! 
ffenricus  neque  septimus  tacetor ; 
Et  quicquid  venerum  politiorum,  et 
Si  quid  praeterii  inscius  libellum 
Quos  magni  peperit  vigor  BACONI. 
Plus  novem  edecumata  musa  musis, 
Omnes  funebribus  subite  flammis, 
Et  lucem  date  liquidam  parenti. 
Non  sunt  saecula  digna  quae  fruantur 
Vobis,  ah  Domino  (ah  nefas)  perempto. 

S.  COLLINS,  E.  C.  P. 


C 


II 

The  Literary  Works  of  Bacon  are  called  to  the  Pyre. 

Instauratio  Magna;  l  subtle  sayings  ;2  a  twofold  increase  of 
the  sciences,  written  both  in  thy  country's  speech  and  then  in 
Latin  with  multifold  enlargement  ;  3  profound  history  of  life 
and  death,4  anointed  as  it  were,  or  rather  bathed,  with  stream 
of  nectar  or  with  Attic  honey  !  Nor  must  the  seventh  Henry  5 
fail  of  mention,  or  if  aught  there  be  of  more  cultured  loves,6 
aught  that  I  unwitting  have  passed  over  of  the  works  which 
the  vigor  of  great  Bacon  hath  produced7  —  a  Muse  more 
choice  than  the  nine  Muses.  Ascend  ye  [Muses]  all,  the 
funeral  flames  and  give  to  your  parent  8  liquid  light.  The 
ages  are  not  worthy  to  enjoy  you,  when  alas,  (oh  monstrous 

shame  !)  your  Lord  is  taken  away. 

S.  COLLINS,  R.  C.  P. 

(RECTOR  OF  KING'S  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE.) 


1  Alluding  to  Bacon's  work  of  this  name. 

2  The  Apothegms  (?). 

8  The  Advancement  of  Learning,  in  its  twofold  edition  (English  and  Latin). 
4  The  Historia  Vitce  et  Mortis. 

6  The  History  of  Henry  VII. 

*  i.  e.  stories  of  love  more  spiritually  interpreted,  as  in  de  principals  atque 
originibus  secundum  Fabulas  Cupidinis  et  Caeli  (?).  Cf.  also  the  general 
method  of  de  Sapientia  veterum. 

7  Punctuate  :  Baconi,  —  Musis. 

8  i.  e.  Bacon.     The  above  lines  suggest  the  conception  of  the  Muses  and 
of  Philosophy  in  Boethius,  Consolatio  Philosophies. 


[18] 

m 

In  Obitum  incomparabilis  Francisd,  Vicecomitis 
Sancti  Albani}  Baronis  Verulamii. 

Dum  longi  lentique  gemis  sub  pondere  morbi 

Atque  haeret  dubio  tabida  vita  pede ; 

Quid  voluit  prudens  fatum,  jam  sentio  tandem  : 

Constat,  Aprile  uno  te  potuisse  mori : 

Ut  flos  hinc  lacrymis,  illinc  Philomela  querelis. 

Deducant  linguae  funera  sola  tuae. 

GEOEGIUS  HEBBERT. 


[19] 

in 

On  the  Death  of  the  Incomparable  Francis,  Viscount 
St.  Alban,  Baron  Verulam.1 

The  while  thou  didst  groan  beneath  the  burden  of  a  long  and 
lingering  malady,  and  pining  life  halted  with  uncertain  foot, 
what  did  wise  fate  intend  ?  2  I  now  at  last  can  see.  Only  in 
April,  surely,  couldst  thou  die,  that  here  the  flower  with  its 
tears,  there  Philomel 3  with  her  laments,  may  follow  only  thy 

tongue's  funeral-train.4 

GEORGE  HERBERT. 


1  This  poem  is  translated  into  German  by  G.  Cantor.     Op.  cit.,  p.  xv. 

1  Punctuate  :  pede  .  .  .  fatum  ?  Jam  .  .  . 

8  the  nightingale. 

*  i.  e.  may  devote  all  their  laments  to  you. 


[20] 

IV 

In  Obitum  honoratissimi  Viri  ac  Domini,  D.  Fran- 

cisci  de   Verulamio,  Vicecomitis  Sancti  Albani, 

nuperi  Anglice  Cancellarii. 

Adhuc  superbis  insolente  purpura 

Feretri  rapinis  inclytos  in  tot  viros 

Sterile  tribunal?   cilicio  dicas  diem, 

Saccumque  totam  facito  luxuriem  fori. 

A  Themide  libra  nee  geratur  pensilis, 

Sed  urna,  praegravis  urna  VERULAMII. 

Expendat.   Eheu !  Ephorus  Laud  lancem  premit, 

Sed  Areopagus  ;  nee  minor  tantus  sophos, 

Quam  porticus  bracchata.   Nam  vester  scholae, 

Gemiscit  axis,  tanta  dum  moles  ruit. 

Orbis  soluta  cardo  litterarii, 

Ubi  studio  coluit  togam  et  trabeam  pari. 

Qualis  per  umbras  ditis  Euridice  vagans 


[21] 

IV 

On  the  Death  of  the  most  honored  Man  and  Lord} 

Sir2  Francis  of  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban, 

late  Chancellor  of  England? 

Art  thou  still  proud  in  insolent  purple  when  the  bier  has 
robbed  so  many  famed  men,4  thou  barren  court?  Thou 
shouldst  give  the  day  to  haircloth  and  make  to  sackcloth  all 
the  pomp  of  the  bar.  Nor  let  Themis  bear  the  hanging 
scales,  but  the  urn,  the  weighty  urn  of  Verulam.  Then  let 
her  weigh.5  Alas,  not  Ephorus  tips  the  beam,  but  Are- 
opagus. Nor  is  so  great  a  sage  less  than  the  barbarian 
porch ; 6  for  your  axis  groaned,  ye  schools,  when  fell  so  great 
a  pile ;  the  very  vault 7  of  the  world  of  letters  was  dissolved, 
wherein,  with  equal  zest,  he  graced  the  civic  and  the  royal 
robe.8  Even  as  Eurydice,  wandering  through  shades  of  Dis, 

1  domini,  in  a  general  sense  :  something  like  '  gentleman.' 

2  domini,  in  the  sense  noted  on  p.  4,  n.  1. 

8  The  writer  of  this  poem  is  an  admirer  of  Juvenal,  and  catches  at  least 

the  difficulties  of  that  author's  style. 

4  lit.  '  at  the  bier's  plundering  against  so  many  famed  men.' 
*  cf.  Juvenal,  Sat.  x.  147. 

6  Portions  brac(c)ata  (bracchata  is  a  misprint)  denotes  the  scholastic  phi- 
losophy, for  which  '  barbarian  porch '  is  an  apt  designation.     Meurer, 
p.  101,  with  less  point  adopts  a  contemporary  sense  of  braccatus,  sleeved. 

7  cardo,  V.  Harper's  Lex.  1  B  2  ;  the  phrase  then  means,  continuing  the 
astronomical  figure  in  axis,  'the  whole  heavens  fell  in.'     Meurer,  how- 
ever, p.  109,  restricting  the  meanings  of  both  cardo  and  orbis  litterarii, 
may  be  right  in  rendering  '  eurer  litterarischer  Kreis  geht  aus  den  An- 
geln'  ('Your  literary  circle  goes  off  the  hooks').    To  Bormann,  p.  15, 
cardo  =  Theater  drehmaschine. 

8  togam  et  trabeam,  i.  e.  civil  law  and  the  history  of  princes  (Henry  VII.). 
Or  it  may  refer  to  the  lower  and  higher  parts  of  philosophy,  the  prac- 
tical  and  the  speculative.      Meurer,  p.  109,  translates  'Richter  und 
Rittertracht '  ('  robe  of  judge  and  of  knight '). 


[22] 

Palpare  gestiit  Orpheum,  quali  Orpheus, 
Saliente  tandem  (vix  prius  crispa)  Styge, 
Alite  fibras  lyrae  titillarit  manu ; 
Talis  plicata  philologom  aenigmatis 
Petiit  BACONUM  vindicem,  tali  manu 
Laetata  cristas  extulit  philosophia : 
Humique  soccis  repitantem  comicis 
Non  proprio  ardelionibus  molimine 
Sarsit,  sed  instaurarit.   Hinc  politius 
Surgit  cothurno  celsiore,  et  organo 
Stagirita  virbius  reviviscit  novo. 

CALPEN  superbo  Abylamque  vincit  remige 
PJioebi  Columbus,  artibus  novis  novum 
Daturus  orbem ;  promovet  conamina 
Juvenilis  ardor,  usque  ad  invidiam  trucem 
Fati  minacis.   Quis  senex  vel  Hannibal, 
Oculi  superstitis  timens  caliginem, 
Signis  suburram  ventilat  victricibus  ? 
Quis  Milo  multus  quercubus  bilem  movet, 
Senecta  tauro  gibba  cum  gravior  premit  ? 


[23] 

longed  to  caress  her  Orpheus,  and  even  as  with  winged  hand 
—  the  while  Styx  leaped  at  last,  scarce  ruffled  before  —  he 
strummed 1  the  fibres  of  his  lyre,  so  did  Philosophy,  involved 
in  scholars' 2  riddles,  call  Bacon  to  her  rescue ;  so  by  his  touch 
entranced,3  she  reared  her  crest :  and  as  she  crept  along  the 
ground  in  comic  sock,  he  did  not  succor 4  her  with  some  de- 
vice 5  that  gossips  would  approve,6  but  made  her  wholly  new. 
Then  with  more  polished  art,  he  rose  in  higher  buskin,  and 
the  Stagerite,  another  Virbius,7  lives  again  in  a  new  Organon. 
Columbus  leaves  Calpe  and  Abyla8  behind,  with  the  proud 
oarage  of  Phoebus,  destined  by  new  arts  to  give  man  a  new 
world ;  his  youthful  ardor  advances  his  emprise  even  to  the 
ruthless  envy  of  a  threatening  fate.  What  old  man,  or  what 
Hannibal,  in  fear  of  darkness  for  his  only  eye,  fans  the 
Suburra  with  his  victorious  standards  ?  9  What  Milo  strong 
raises  the  wrath 10  of  oaks,  when  old  age,  weight  heavier  than 
a  bull  n  presses  him  down  ?  The  while  our  hero  bestowed 


I  lit.  '  tickled  '  —  an  exaggeration  characteristic  of  this  writer. 

3  philologcan :  the  schoolmen,  '  lovers  of  words,'  a  phrase  in  the  spirit  of 

Mephistopheles'  "  im  Ganzen  —  haltet  Euch  an  Worte,"  etc. 
8  lactata,  gen.  '  cajoled,'  but  here  in  a  good  sense. 

4  lit.  '  patch.' 

5  lit.  '  undertaking.' 

8  i.  e.  he  resorted  to  no  half  way,  dilettante  measures. 

7  Hippolytus  was  raised  from  the  dead  and  under  the  name  of  Virbius 
lived  another  life.     Thus  Bacon  is  an  Aristoteles  redivivus. 

8  The  two  pillars  of  Hercules. 

9  Illustration  and  phrasing  from  Juvenal.    Sat.  x.  156  f.    Ventilat,  '  fans ' 

(i.e.  'stirs'),  is  an  example  of  the  exaggeration  of  the  writer's  style, 
which  out-Juvenals  Juvenal. 

10  bilem,  '  spleen '  —  more  tasteless  imagery.     The  allusion  is  to  Mile's 
tragic  end. 

II  Alludes  to  the  story  of  Milo's  carrying  a  heifer  on  his  shoulders  at  the 
Stadium  of  Olympia —  an  achievement  of  his  youth. 


[24] 

Dura  noster  heros  traderet  scientias 
^Eternitati,  prorsus  expeditior 
Sui  sepulchri  comperitur  artifex. 
Placida  videtur  ecstasis  speculatio, 
Qua  mens  tueri  volucris  idaeas  boni 
In  lacteos  properat  Olympi  tramites. 
His  immoratur  sedibus  domestica, 
Peregrina  propriis.   Redit.   Joculariter 
Fugax ;  vagatur  rursus,  et  rursus  redit. 
Furtiva  tandem  serib,  se  substrahit 
Totam ;  gementi,  morbido  cadaveri 
Sic  desuescit  anima,  sic  jubet  mori. 

Agite  lugubres  musae,  et  a  Libani  jugis 
Cumulate  thura.    Sydus  in  pyram  illius 
Scintillet  omne  ;  scelus  sit  accendi  rogum 
Regum  Prometheo  culinari  foco. 
Et  si  qua  forte  ludat  in  cineres  sacros 
Aura  petulantior,  fugamque  suadeat, 
Tune  flete ;  lachrymis  in  amplexus  ruent 
Globuli  sequaces.    Denub  fundamine 
Ergastuli  everso  radicitus  tui 
Evehere  fcelix  anima,  Jacobum  pete, 
Ostende,  et  illuc  civicam  fidem  sequi. 
E  tripode  juris,  dictites  oracula 
Themidos  alumnis.   Sic  (beati  coelites) 
Astrcea  pristine  fruatur  vindice, 

Vel  cum  Bacono  rursus  Astrceam  date. 

R.  P. 


[25] 

eternity  upon  the  sciences,  he  was  found,  in  truth,  a  readier 
artist  of  his  own  sepulchre.1  Calm  speculation  seemeth 
extasy,  where-by  the  winged  mind,  to  gaze  on  the  Ideas  of 
Good,  hastens  to  Olympus'  milky  paths.  In  these  abodes  2  it 
tarrieth  as  its  house,  a  stranger  with  its  own.  It  comes 
again.3  Playfully  it  flies  away ;  again  it  wanders  and  again 
comes  back ;  at  last  in  earnest  stealing  away  it  utterly  with- 
draws. Even  so  the  soul  quits  the  moaning,  wasting  corpse ; 
so  does  it  bid  it  die.4 

Come  then,  ye  Muses  of  Woe,  and  from  the  spurs  of  Liba- 
nus  gather  ye  incense,  let  every  star  shower  its  sparks  upon  his 
pyre;  be  it  a  crime  to  light  the  pile  of  kings  with  flame  of  Prome- 
theus from  a  kitchen  hearth.  And  if  perchance  some  breeze 
more  wanton  should  play  about  his  hallowed  ashes  and  scatter 
them  flying,  then  weep  ye ;  your  tears  will  flow  in  sequent 
globules  to  mutual  embrace.5  Since  then,  the  fundament  of 
thy  prison  house  is  shattered  utterly  a  second  time,  rise,  happy 
soul,  seek  JAMES  ; 6  show  him  that  civic  fidelity  followeth 
even  there.  From  the  law's  tripod  thou  shalt  utter  oracles  for 
Themis'  fosterlings.  Thus,  ye  blest  Heavenly  Ones,  may 
Astraea  take  pleasure  in  her  ancient  champion  ;  or  else,  give 
ye  Astraea  back  with  Bacon.  K.  P. 


1  i.  e.  the  old  man  of  Verulam  performed  a  task  that  called  for  the 
strength  of  a  young  hero  (hence  the  point  of  the  preceding  illustration). 
Bacon's  great  monument  that  he  was  rearing  turned  out  to  be  his  tomb. 

3  i.  e.  on  earth. 

8  i.  e.  to  its  heavenly  home. 

4  Reason  has  appeared  once  or  twice  on  earth  in  the  person  of  Aristotle 
and  other  Sages  ;  now  at  the  demise  of  Bacon,  its  last  incarnation,  it 
leaves  for  good  and  all. 

5  i.  e.  will  chase  each  other  down  your  cheeks. 

6  James  I.  died  1625,  the  year  before. 


[26] 

V 

Memoriae  Meritisque  honoratissimi  D.  Francisci  D. 
Verulamii,  Vice-Comitis,  Sancti-Albani. 

Lugete  fletu  turbulenta  flumina, 

Sub  calce  nata  Pegasi, 
Rivoque  nigrum  vix  trahente  pulverem 

Limo  profana  currite. 
Viridisque  Daphnes  decidens  ramis  honos 

Arescat  infoelicibus. 
Quorsum  Camcence  laureas  inutiles 

Mcesti  colatis  hortuli  ? 
Quin  vos  severis  stipitem  bipennibus 

Vanae  secatis  arboris ! 
Vivos  reliquit,  cui  solebat  unico 

Coronam  ferre  lauream, 
Divum  potitus  arce  Verulamius 

Corona  f  ulget  aurea : 
Supra  coal!  terminos  sedens  amat 

Stellas  videre  cernuus : 
Sophiam  qui  sede  caelitum  reconditam 

Iiividit  immortalibus, 
Aggressus  orbi  redditam  cultu  novo 

Mortalibus  reducere : 
Quo  nemo  terras  incolens  majoribus 

Donis  pollebat  ingeni : 
Nee  ullus  aeque  gnavite~r  superstitum 

Themln  maritat  Palladi. 
Adductus  istis,  dum  vigebat,  artibus 

Aonidum  sacer  chorus, 
In  laude  totam  fudit  eloquentiam, 

Nihil  reliquit  fletibus. 

POSUI   "WlLHELMUS  BOSWELL. 


[27] 

V 

To  the  Memory  and  the  Merits  of  the  Most  Honored 
Sir*  Francis,  Lord*  of  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban. 

Mourn  ye  streams,  with  weeping  troubled,  ye  that  were 
born  beneath  the  heel  of  Pegasus,  and  as  your  current  can 
scarce  draw  the  black  dust,  run  ye  with  mud  profaned.  And 
let  Daphne's  verdant  glory3  droop  and  wither  on  leafless 
boughs.  To  what  end  Muses,  would  ye  rear  the  useless  laurels 
of  a  garden  sad  ?  Nay,  rather,  with  the  ruthless  axe  cut  the 
stalk  of  the  vain  tree !  He  hath  left  the  living  for  whom 
alone  it  was  wont  to  bear  a  crown  of  bay  :  Verulam,  gaining 
the  citadel  of  the  gods,  shineth  in  crown  of  gold,  and  4  sitting 
above  the  boundaries  of  the  sky  he  loves  to  see  the  stars  mak- 
ing obeisance.  The  wisdom  treasured  in  the  Heavenly  One's 
abode,  he  begrudged  the  immortals,  essaying  to  bring  it  back 
to  mortals,  restored  for  the  world's  new  adoration.5  No  dweller 
of  earth  abounds  in  greater  gifts  of  genius  than  he ;  nor  does 
any  of  surviving  men  with  equal  skill  wed  Themis  to  Pallas. 
Moved  by  such  talents,  while  yet  he  flourished,  the  sacred  choir 
of  Aonids6  poured  all  their  eloquence  in  his  praise,  and 
nought  hath  left  for  tears. 

By  WILLIAM  BOSWELL. 


1  Domini  =  Cambridge  B.  A. 

1  Domini  =  Lord  of  the  Manor  (?)  V.  Cent.  Diet.  S.  V. 

8  i.  e.  the  laurel. 

4  Read  supraque  with  Hagen  and  Meurer. 

5  i.  e.  he  restores  a  long  lost  cult,  as  it  were,  —  the  love  of  wisdom. 
8  i.  e.  the  Muses. 


[28] 

VI 

In  Obitum  honoratissimi  Domini  Francisci  Baconi, 
magni  nuper  totius  Anglice  Cancellarii,  &c. 

Auclax  exemplum  quo  mcns  huiuana  feratur 

Et  saecli  vindex  ingeniose  tui, 
Dum  senio  macras  recoquis  foeliciter  artes, 

Sub  trains  et  prisco  libera  colla  jugo, 
Quo  deflenda  modo  veniunt  tua  f  unera  ?  quales 

Exposcunt  lacrymas,  quid  sibi  fata  volunt  ? 
An  timuit  natura  parens  ne  nuda  jaceret, 

Detraxit  vestem  dum  tua  dextra  sacram  ? 
Ignotique  oculis  rerum  patuere  recessus, 

Fugit  et  aspectum  rimula  nulla  tuum  ? 
An  verb,  antiquis  olim  data  sponsa  maritis, 

Conjugis  amplexum  respuit  ilia  novi? 
An  tandem,  damnosa  piis  atque  invida  caeptis, 

Correpuit  vitae  fila  (trahenda)  tuae  ? 
Sic  ultra  vitreum  Siculus l  ne  pergeret  orbem 

Privati  cecidit  militis  ense  senex. 
Tuque  tuos  manes  ideb  (FRANCISCE)  tulisti, 

Ne  non  tentandum  perficeretur  opus. 


1  Archimedes. 


[29] 

VI 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Honored  Sir1  Francis 
Bacon,  of  late  High 1  Chancellor  of  England,  <&c. 

Thou  bold  exemplar  of  how  far  the  human  mind  may  rise ; 
thou  talented  deliverer  of  thine  age  ;  the  while  thou  dost  hap- 
pily repair  the  meagre  arts  and  ease  free  2  necks  of  their  an- 
cient yoke,  how  shall  thy  funeral  be  mourned,  that  now  comes 
on?  What  tears  do  thy  fates  demand,  what  mean  they? 
Did  Parent  Nature  fear  lest  she  lie  naked  while  thy  hand 
stripped  her  sacred  robe  ?  Were  the  world's  hidden  corners 
bared  to  thine  eyes,  and  did  no  cranny  escape  thy  gaze  ?  Or, 
can  it  be,  did  she  who  was  betrothed  to  ancient  lords,  spurn  the 
embraces  of  her  newest  spouse  ?  Or,  in  fine,  ruinous  to  the 
good  and  envious  of  endeavor, 3  did  she  snap  thy  life's  threads, 
which  rather  should  have  been  prolonged  ?  Thus,  that  the 
Sicilian  old  man  4  might  not  soar  beyond  the  crystal  sphere,5 
he  fell  by  a  private's  sword.  Thou,  too,  Francis,  hast  for 
this  received  thy  fate,  that  the  forbidden  task  should  not  be 
finished. 


1  Perhaps  domini  here='  Lord,'  as  the  office  of  Chancellor  is  mentioned. 
Or  should  Magni  be  rendered  not '  High '  but '  Lord '  ? 

*  Prolepsis,  common  in  Latin  poetry;  i.  e.  '  ease  and  set  free.' 

*  Read  coeptis  as  in  B.,  not  cceptis. 

*  i.  e.  Archimedes. 

6  In  the  sense  of  Lucretius's  flammantia  moenia  mundi  (i.  73).     He  was 
not  to  pursue  his  investigations  too  far  into  the  divine. 


[30] 

VII 

In  Eundem. 

Sunt  qui  defuncti  vivant  in  marmore,  et  sevum 

Annosis  credant  postibus  onme  suum ; 
-<33re  micant  alii,  aut  f ulvo  spectantur  in  auro, 

Et  dum  se  ludunt,  ludere  fata  putant. 
Altera  pars  hominum,  numerosa  prole  superstes, 

Cum  Niobe  magnos  temnit  iniqua  deos : 
At  tua  cselatis  hseret  nee  fama  columnis, 

Nee  tumulo  legitur,  Siste  viator  iter : 
Siqua  patrem  proles  referat  non  corporis  ilia  est, 

Sed  quasi  de  cerebro  nata  Minerva  Jovis: 
Prima  tibi  virtus  monumenta  perennia  prsestat, 

Altera,  nee  citius  corruitura,  libri : 
Tertia  nobilitas ;  ducant  jam  fata  triumphos, 

Quse  (FRANCISCE)  tui  nil  nisi  corpus  habent. 
Utraque  pars  melior,  mens  et  bona  fama  supersunt 

Non  tanti  ut  redimas  vile  cadaver  habes. 

T.  VINCENT,  T.  C. 


[31] 

VII 

On  the  Same. 

Some  there  are  who,  dead,  would  live  in  marble,  and  entrust 
their  immortality  to  aged  pillars ;  Some  shine  in  bronze,  1  or 
glitter  in  yellow  gold,1  and  while  they  cheat  themselves,  think 
that  they  cheat  the  fates.  Another  breed  of  humankind,  sur- 
viving with  numerous  progeny,  like  Niobe  unjustly  scorns  the 
great  gods.2  But  thy  renown  neither  clings  to  graven  columns 
nor  does  thy  tomb  read,3  "  Traveler,  stay  thy  course."  4  If  any 
offspring  should  recall  his  parent,  't  is  not  that  of  his  body,  but 
such  as  Minerva,  sprung  from  the  brain  of  Jove.5  First  thy 
virtue  bestows  on  thee  perennial  monument :  and  second  — 
not  soon  to  perish — thy  books :  third,  thy  nobility.  Now  let 
the  Fates  hold  triumph,  who,  Francis,  have  nothing  of  thee  but 
thy  body.  Both  thy  better  parts,  thy  mind  and  thy  good  fame 
survive :  thou  boldest  it  not  dear  to  ransom  the  vile  corpse. 

T.  VINCENT,  T.  C. 
(i.  e.  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE.) 


1  i.  e.  have  statues  of  bronze  or  gold  erected  to  their  memory. 

2  i.  e.  imagine  they  never  shall  die. 

3  Meurer,  p.  103,  would  (inappropriately)  change  legitur  to  tegitur. 

*  i.  e.  bear  some  conventional  eulogy.  Siste  viator  iter  is  a  frequent  head- 
ing in  epitaphs. 

6  i.  e.  his  immortality  is  not  to  be  transmitted  through  his  descendants  in 
the  flesh:  his  qualities  ensure  his  fame. 


[32] 

vin 

In  Obitum  nobilissimi  Domini  Frandsd 
Baronis  Verulamii,  &c. 

Visa  mihi  pridem  nee  in  uno  vivere  posse 
Tot  bona  sunt,  unquam  nee  potuisse  mori. 

Queis,  quasi  syderibus  coelum,  tua  vita  refulsit, 
Et  quas  sunt  fatum  cuncta  secuta  tuum ; 

Ingenium,  et  largo  procurrens  flumine  lingua, 
Philosophi  pariter,  juridicique  decus. 

Nunc  video  potuisse  quidem ;  sed  parcite  amici, 
Hie  si  non  redeat,  non  reditura  puto. 

I.  VIXCENT,  T.  C. 


[33] 

VIII 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Noble  Sir,  Francis} 
Baron,  Verulam  &c. 

Once  did  I  deem  neither  that  so  many  virtues  could  dwell 
in  one  man,  nor  that  they  would  ever  die :  with  the  which  thy 
life  shone  like  the  heaven  with  stars,  and  which  have  all  fol- 
lowed thine  own  fate  1  —  genius  and  eloquence  flowing  in  gen- 
erous stream,  the  glory  of  sage  and  of  jurist  too.  I  see  now 
that  this  might  have  been  —  but  friends,  enough.  If  he  shall 
not  return,  I  think  not  that  such  traits  will  come  again. 

I.  VINCENT,  T.  C. 
(i.  e.  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE.) 


i.  e.  departed  with  thee. 


[34] 

rx 

In  Obitum  illustrissimi  clarissimique  Herois,  Domini 
Francisci  Baconi,  Baronis  de  Verulamio, 


MUSSB  f  undite  nunc  aquas  perennes 
In  threnos,  lacrymasque  Apollo  fundat 
Quas  vel  Castalium  tenet  fluentum  : 
Nam  letho  neque  convenire  tanto 
Possint  naenia  parva,  nee  coronent 
Immensa  haec  modicae  sepulchra  guttae  : 
Nervus  ingenii,  medulla  suadje 
Dicendique  Tagusy  reconditarum 
Et  gemma  pretiosa  literarum 
Fatis  concidit,  (heu  trium  sororum 
Dura  stamina)  nobilis  BACONUS. 
O  quam  te  memorem  BACONE  summe 
Nostro  carmine  !  et  ilia  gloriosa 
Conctorum  monumenta  seculorum, 
Excusa  ingenio  tuo,  et  Minerva  I 
Quam  doctis,  eligantibus,  profundis, 
Instauratio  magna,  plena  rebus  ! 
Quanto  lumine  tineas  sophorum 
Dispellit  veterum  tenebricosas 
Ex  cliao  procreans  novam  a-o^iav  : 
Sic  ipse  Deus  inditum  sepulchre 
Corpus  restituet  rnanu  potenti  ; 
Ergo  non  moreris  (BACONE),  nam  te 
A  morte,  et  tenebris,  et  a  sepulchre, 

Instauratio  magna  vindicabit. 

R.  C.,  T.  C. 


[35] 
IX 

Threnody  on  the  Death  of  the  Most  Illustrious  and 

Most  Eminent  Hero,  Sir  Francis  Bacon, 

Baron  Verulam. 

Pour  now  ye  Muses  your  perennial  founts  into  a  song  of 
woe,  and  let  Apollo  shed  in  tears  whatever  even  the  stream 
of  Castaly  contains.  For  no  humble  dirge  would  befit  so 
great  a  death,  nor  moderate  drops  crown  this  stupendous  tomb. 
The  Sinews  of  Wit,  the  Marrow  of  Persuasion,  the  Tagus l 
of  Eloquence,  the  Precious  Gem  of  Kecondite  Letters,2 
has  fallen  by  the  Fates  (ah  me,  the  three  sisters'  cruel 
threads !)  —  The  noble  Bacon,  Ah  how  can  I  extol  thee  great- 
est Bacon,  in  my  lay !  or  how  those  glorious  monuments  of 
all  ages,  chiselled  by  thy  genius,  by  Minerva.3  How  full  thy 
Instauratio  Magna  of  matter  learned,  elegant,  profound! 
With  what  light  hath  it  dispelled  the  gloomy  moths  of  ancient 
sages,  creating  new  Wisdom  out  of  Chaos !  So  God  Himself 
with  potent  hand  will  restore  the  body  consigned  to  the  tomb.4 
Thus  Bacon,  thou  shalt  not  die ;  for  from  death,  from  the 
shades,  from  the  tomb,  thy  great  Instauration  shall  deliver 

thee.5 

R.  C.    T.  C. 

(i.  e.  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE.) 


1  i.  e.  golden  stream. 

2  i.  e.  his  philosophical  works. 

*  or  by  thy  genius  and  thy  wit. 

4  i.  e.  as  God  vouchsafed  a  resurrection  to  the  human  body,  so  Bacon  to 
the  old  philosophers. 

5  i.  e.  this  great  resurrection  is  token  of  thine  own. 


[36] 

X 

In  Obitum  honoratissimi  Baronis  Verulamiensis,  &c. 

En  iterum  auditur  (certe  instauratio  magna  est ! ) 

Stellata  camera  fulgidus  ore  BACON  : 
Nuno  vere  albatus,  judex  purissimus  audit ; 

Cui  stola  ( Christe)  tuo  sanguine  tincta  datur. 
Integer  ut  fiat,  prius  exuit  ipse  seipsum : 

Terra,  habeas  corpus ;  (dixit,)  et  astra  petit. 
Sic,  sic,  Astrceam  sequitur  praenobilis  umbra, 

Et  Verulam  verum  nunc  sine  nube  videt. 


[37] 

X 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Honored  Baron 
Verulam,  &c. 

Look  ye !  in  sooth  't  is  a  great  instauration !  Again  is 
Bacon,  with  radiant  face,  heard  in  the  chamber  of  the  stars.1 
Now  in  real  robe  of  white,  the  most  pure  judge  is  listening,  to 
whom,  oh  Christ,  a  stole  dipped  in  Thy  blood  is  given.  To 
make  himself  complete,  he  first  did  doff  himself.  "  Earth, 
keep  the  body,"  quoth  he,  and  hied  him  to  the  stars.  Thus, 
doth  the  all-noble  shade  follow  Astraea,  and  seeth  now  that 
very  Verulam  without  a  cloud. 


1  A  most  tasteless  allusion  to  Bacon's  triumphs  in  the  Star  Chamber. 


[38] 

XI 

De  Connubio  Rosarum. 

Septimus  Henricus  non  aere  et  marmore  vivit ; 

Vivit  at  in  chartis  (magne  BACONE)  tuis. 
Junge  duas  (Henrice)  rosas ;  dat  mille  BACONUS  ; 

Quot  verba  in  libro,  tot  reor  esse  rosas. 

T.  P. 


[39] 

XI 

On  the  Marriage  of  the  Roses. 

The  seventh  Henry  liveth  not  in  bronze  or  marble,  but  he 
liveth,  great  Bacon  in  thy  page.1  Mate,  Henry,  thy  roses 
twain :  Bacon  gives  a  thousand.  As  many  the  words  in  his 

book,  so  many  the  roses,  I  ween. 

T.  P. 


i.  e.  the  History  of  Henry  VII. 


[40] 

XII 

In  Obitum  nobilissimi  doctissimique    Viri  Dom. 
Fran.  Bacon,  Baronis  Verulamiensis,  <fec. 

Sic  cadit  Aonii  rarissima  gloria  coetus  ? 

Et  placet  Aoniis  credere  semen  agris  ? 
Fragantur  calami,  disrumpanturque  libelli, 

Hoc  possint  tetricae  si  modo  jure  deae. 
Heu  quas  lingua  silet,  quae  jam  f  acundia  cessat, 

Quo  f ugit  ingenii  nectar  et  esca  tui  ? 
Quomodo  musarum  nobis  contingit  alumnis 

Ut  caderet  nostri  presses  Apollo  chori  ? 
Si  nil  cura,  fides,  labor,  aut  vigilantia  possint, 

Sique  f  eret  rapidas,  de  tribus,  una,  manus ; 
Cur  nos  multa  brevi  nobis  proponimus  sevo  ? 

Cur  putri  excutimus  scripta  sepulta  situ  ? 
Scilicet  ut  dignos  aliorum  a  morte  labores 

Dum  rapimus  nos  mors  in  sua  jura  trahat. 
Quid  tamen  incassum  nil  proficientia  f  undo 

Verba  ?  quis  optabit  te  reticente,  loqui  ? 
Nemo  tuam  spargat  violis  fragantibus  urnam, 

Nee  tibi  pyramidum  mole  sepulchra  locet ; 
Nam  tua  conservant  operosa  volumina  famam, 

Hoc  satis,  haec  prohibent  te  monumenta  mori. 

WILLIAMS. 


[41  ] 

XII 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Noble  and  Most  Learned 
Man,  Sir  Francis  Bacon,  Baron  Verulam,  &c. 

Thus  the  rarest  glory  of  the  Aonian  band  is  fallen !  And 
would  you  consign  the  seed  to  the  Aonian  plain  ? 1  Let  pens 
be  broken  and  writings  torn,  if  the  stern  goddesses  may 
rightly  do  this.  Ah  me,  what  a  tongue  is  silent,  what  elo- 
quence now  ceases !  Whither  is  fled  the  nectar,  the  bread  of 
thy  wit  ?  How  doth  it  befall  us,  the  Muses'  fosterlings,  that 
Apollo,  the  master  of  our  choir  should  be  stricken  down  ?  If 
care  and  fidelity,  labor  or  vigilance  can  nought  avail,  if  one 
of  the  Three  shall  swiftly  interpose  its  hand,2  why  set  we 
many  aims  for  us  in  this  brief  span  ? 3  Why  strike  off  works 
that  are  buried  in  rotting  decay?  In  sooth,  the  while  we 
snatch  others'  worthy  toil  from  death,  Death  may  hale  us  to 
his  court.  Yet  why  do  I  pour  forth  in  vain  these  fruitless 
words?  Who,  when  thou  art  silent  shall  desire  to  speak? 
Let  no  man  heap  thy  urn  with  fragrant  violets,  nor  set  thy 
tomb  in  the  pyramids'  pile.  For  thy  laborious  volumes  pre- 
serve thy  fame.  This  is  enough:  these  monuments  forbid 

that  thou  shouldst  die. 

WILLIAMS. 


1  i.  e.  cultivate  the  barren  Muse. 

2  i.  e.  one  of  the  three  Parcce  stands  ever  ready  to  thwart  man's  under- 
taking. 

1  cf.  Horace  C.  ii.  16,  17,  Quid  brevi  fortes  iaculamur  cevo  multa  t 


[42] 

XIII 

In  Obitum  honoratissimi  Domini)  D.  Francisci  Vice* 

comitis  Sancti  Albani,  Baronis   Verulamii, 

Viri  incomparabilis. 

Parcite :  noster  amat  f  acunda  silentia  luctus, 

Postquam  obiit  solus  dicere  qui  potuit : 
Dicere,  quae  stupeat  procerum  generosa  corona, 

Nexaque  sollicitis  soluere  jura  reis. 
Vastum  opus.   At  nostras  etiam  Verulamius  artes 

Instaurat  veteres,  condit  et  ille  novas. 
Non  qua  ma j  ores  :  penitos  verum  ille  recessus 

Naturae,  audaci  provocat  ingenio. 
Ast  ea,  siste  gradum,  serisque  nepotibus,  (inquit^) 

Linque  quod  inventum  scecla  minorajuvet. 
Sit  satis  his  sese  quod  nobilitata  inventis, 

Jactent  ingenio  tempora  nostra  tuo. 
Est  aliquid,  quo  mox  ventura  superbiet  cetas  ; 

Est  soli  notum  quod  decet  esse  mihi  : 
Sit  tua  laus,  pulchros  corpus  duxisse  per  artus, 

Integra  cui  nemo  reddere  membra  queat: 
Sic  opus  artificem  infectum  commendat  Apellem, 

Cum  pingit  reliquam  nulla  manus  Venerem. 
Dixit,  et  indulgens  caeco  natura  furori, 

Praesecuit  vitaB  filum  operisque  simul. 
At  tu,  qui  pendentem  audes  detexere  telam, 

Solus  quern  condant  haec  monumenta  scies. 

H.  T.,  COLL.  TBIN.  Socros. 


[43] 
XIII 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Honored  Gentleman l  Sir 1 

Francis,  Viscount  St.  Alban,  Baron  Verulam, 

Incomparable  Man. 

Desist :  our  grief  loves  eloquent  silence  now  that  he  is  dead 
who  alone  could  speak  —  aye,  speak  things  to  amaze  the 
circle  of  the  well-born  Eminent  —  and  could  loose  the  laws 
entwined  about  the  anxious  prisoner.  A  work  immense.  But, 
besides,  Verulam  restores  our  old  arts,  and  himself  founds 
new.  Not  so  the  ancients ;  for  he  with  daring  genius  chal- 
lenges the  hidden  nooks  of  Nature. 

But  she  saith,  "  Stay  thy  steps,  and  leave  to  thy  late  grand- 
sons some  discovery,  to  gratify  the  younger  age.  Be  it  enough 
that  our  times,  ennobled  by  these  discoveries,  boast  of  thy 
genius.  Something  there  is  which  shall  make  proud  the  ages 
soon  to  come :  something  there  is  which  it  behooves  me  alone 
to  know.  Thine  be  the  praise  to  have  drawn  the  body  with  all 
its  beauteous  parts,  whereto  no  man  may  restore  entire  mem- 
bers. Thus  the  unfinished  work  commends  the  artist  Apelles, 
while  no  hand  paints  whate'er  of  Venus  he  has  left  to  do." 

So  Nature  spake,  and  giving  way  to  her  blind  rage  cut 
short  the  thread  of  life  and  of  his  work  as  well. 

But  you  alone,  who  dare  to  finish  the  hanging  warp,  shall 
know  what  manner  of  man  these  monuments  enshrine.2 

H.  T. 
FELLOW  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE. 


1  Domini. 

8  i.  e.  only  a  man  who  could  complete  Bacon's  work  could  really  appreci- 
ate him.  Condant  does  not  mean  verbergen  as  Bormann  imagines  (p.  11), 
but  (as  often  in  classical  Latin)  merely  'preserve,'  'enshrine.' 


[44] 

XIV 

In  Obitum  nobilissimi  Viri,  Francisci  Domini 
Verulam,  Vicecomites  Sancti  Albani. 

Te  tandem  extincto  secum  mors  laeta  triumphal 
Atque  ait ;  hoc  majus  sternere  nil  potui , 

Hectora  magnanimum  solus  laceravit  Achilles, 
Obrutus  ac  uno  vulnere  Ccesar  obit : 

Mille  tibi  morbos  dederat  mors,  spicula  mille, 
Credibile  est  aliter  te  potuisse  mori  ? 

THO.  RHODES,  COL.  REGAL. 


[45] 

XIV 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Noble  Man  Francis  Lord 
Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban. 

At  length  at  thy  demise,  gay  Death  holds  triumph  with  him- 
self  and  says :  "  Nothing  greater  than  this  man  could  I  lay 
low."  Achilles  all  alone  mangled  great  hearted  Hector,  and 
Caesar  struck  by  one  blow  fell.  To  thee  had  Death  given  a 
thousand  ills,  and  sent  a  thousand  darts  at  thee.  Can  we 
believe  that  thou  couldst  else  have  died  ? 

THOMAS  RHODES, 
OF  KING'S  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE. 


[46] 

XV 

In  clarissimi  Viri  Francisci  Bacon,  Baronis  de 

Verulamio,  Vicecomitis  Sancti  Albani, 

Memoriam. 

Natures  vires  pandens,  artisque  labores, 
Arte  potens  quondam  studio  indagavit  anhelo 
Anglus,  Hogerius  Bacon,  celeberrimus  olim : 
Optica  qui  chymicis,  physicisque  mathemata  jungens, 
Perspectiva,  suae  praeclara  molimina  mentis, 
Vivit  in  aeternum  praeclarae  munere  famae. 
Anglus  et  alter  erat  clarus  Bacon  Joannes, 
Abdita  Scripturse  reserans  oracula  Sacrae. 
Stirps  BACONIADUM  quamvis  generosa  Britannis 
Pignora  plura  dedit,  longe  celebrata  per  orbem ; 
FRANCISCUM  tandem  tulit  hunc  :  generosior  alter 
Ingenio  quisquamne  f  uit  ?  majora  capessens  ? 
Ditior  eloquio  ?  compluraque  mente  revolvens  ? 
Scripta  decent ;  veterum  queis  hie  monumenta  sophorum 
Censura  castigat  acri ;  exiguoque  libello 
Stupendos  ausus  docet  Instauratio  magna  ; 
Ventorum  Histories, ;    VitcBque  et  Mortis  imago. 
Quis  mage  magnanimus  naturam  artesque  retexens  ? 
Singula  quid  memorem,  quaB  multa  et  clara  supersunt  ? 
Pars  sepulta  jacet ;  parti  quoque  visere  lucem. 
KAWLETUS  praestat  FRANCISCO  fidus  Achates. 

ROBEETUS   ASHLEYUS,  MEDIO-TEMPLARmS. 


[47] 

XV 

To  the  Memory  of  the  Most  Eminent  Man,  Francis 
Bacon,  Baron  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban. 

Revealing  Nature's  powers  and  the  works  of  Art,  potent  him- 
self in  art,  a  man  of  England  once 1  followed  his  quest  in 
breathless  zeal  —  Roger  Bacon,  in  former  times  far  famed. 
Who,  uniting  Optic  Science  with  Chemical,  with  Physical,  Per- 
spective —  these  glorious  emprises  of  the  mind  —  liveth  for- 
ever with  the  boon  of  glorious  fame.  Another  man  of  England 
too  attained  renown  —  John  Bacon,  who  unlocked  the  secret 
oracles  of  Sacred  Scripture.  Albeit  the  race  of  Bacon  gave 
to  the  Britains  many  pledges,  far  famed  in  all  the  world,  at 
last  it  bare  our  Francis.  Whoe'er  in  genius  was  better  born 
than  he  ?  What  man  of  greater  undertakings  ?  Who  with 
more  wealth  of  eloquence  ?  Who  that  revolved  more  thoughts 
in  his  mind?  His  writings  show.  In  them  with  piercing 
judgement,  he  castigates  the  works  of  ancient  Sages :  in  a 
little  book,  his  great  Instauration  reveals  its  stupendous 
aims  :  The  Histories  of  Winds,  the  Image  of  Life  and  Death. 
Who  greater- souled  than  he  unbarred  Nature  and  the  Arts  ? 
Why  should  I  speak  of  each  in  turn,  when  many  writings  of 
great  fame  abound?  A  part  of  them  lies  buried;2  that  a  part 
should  see  the  light,  Rawley,  faithful  Achates  unto  Francis, 

hath  achieved. 

ROBERT  ASHLEY, 

OF  THE  MIDDLE  TEMPLE. 


1  Like  Lucretius'  primum  Grains  homo,  i.  66. 

2  i.  e.  still  in  the  manuscript,  unedited. 


[48] 

XVI 

In  Domini  Frandsci  Baconi  jam  mortui  Historiam 
Vitae  et  Mortis. 

Historise  scriptor  Vitas,  Mortisque  BACONE, 
Sera  mori,  ac  semper  vivere  digne  magis ; 
Cur  adeo  asternas  prsefers  extincte  tenebras, 
Nosque  baud  victuros  post  te  ita  tecum  aboles  ? 

Nostrum  omnium  Historiam  Vitce  Mortisque  (BACONE) 
Scripsti ;  quseso  tuam  quis  satis  bistoriam 

Vel  vitae,  vel  mortis,  i'o  ?  quin  cedite  Graii, 
Cede  Maro  Latia  primus  in  bistoria. 

Optimus  et  fandi,  et  scribendi,  et  nomine  quo  non 

Inclytus,  eximius  consilio  atque  schola ; 
Marte  idem,  si  Mars  artem  pateretur,  et  omni 

Excellens  titulo  semihomoque  ac  studio ; 
Temptor  opum,  atque  aurum  tenui  dum  postbabet  aurae, 

Terrea  regna  polo  mutat,  et  astra  solo. 


[49] 

XVI 

On  the  History  of  Life  and  Death,  by  the  late  Sir 
Francis  Bacon. 

Thou  writer  of  the  history  of  life  and  death,  Bacon,  worthy 
late  to  die,  aye,  rather  ever  to  live,  why  dost  thou,  extinct,  so 
cherish  the  shades,  and  thus  efface  us  with  thyself,  who  shall 
not  live  after  thee  ?  Thou  hast  written,  Bacon,  the  history 
of  the  life  and  death  of  us  all.  Prithee  who  shall  write  well 
the  story  either  of  thy  life  or  death  —  ah  who  ?  Nay,  yield,  ye 
Greeks,  yield  Maro,  first  in  Latin  history.1 

Most  excellent  in  both  the  spoken  and  the  written  word, 
and  famed  in  whatever  way,2  great  at  counsel3  and  in  the 
school ; 4  excelling  too  in  Mars,  if  Mars  could  suffer  art,5  and 
in  every  title,  in  every  aim,  more  than  a  man.6  Despiser  of 
wealth,  the  while  he  rates  gold  lower  than  the  unsubstantial 
breeze,  he  changes  earthly  realms  for  the  sky,  and  the  ground 
for  the  stars. 


1  cf.  Propertius,  iii.  34,  65,  cedite  Romani  Scriptores  cedite  Graii. 

3  The  full  construction  would  be,  non  est  nomen  quo  non  inclytus  erat. 

8  Refers  to  his  career  as  Privy  Councillor,  or  to  his  statesmanship  in 
general. 

4  Refers  to  his  attainments  in  philosophy. 

8  Meurer's  interpretation  (p.  Ill),  'if  Mars  could  suffer  him  this  art,' 

seems  pointless. 
8  A  queer  use  of  semihomo.     In  classical  Latin  it  means  '  half-beast,'  not 

'half -god.' 


[50] 

XVII 

In  eundem  Virum  Eloquentissimum. 

Viderit  Utilitas,  moniti  meliora,  sed  adde 
Ex  Ithaca,  f  andi  fictor,  et  omne  tenes. 

E.  F.,  REGAL. 


[51] 

XVII 
On  the  same  most  Eloquent  Man. 

Let  Utility  look  on  him,1  oh  ye  of  better  learning,2  but  add 
a  bit  of  Ithaca,  thou  forger  of  tales,3  and  then  thou  shalt  have 

all.4 

E.  F.  OF  KING'S  COLLEGE  (CAMBRIDGE). 


1  or  '  take  notice  ; '  the  idea  is,  let  ut Ritas  be  reckoned  as  one  of  Bacon's 

characteristics. 

8  moniti  meliora,  i.  e.  doctiores,  men  of  understanding. 
8  Ulysses  is  here  addressed.     Fandi  Jictor  is  applied  to  him  in  Virgil, 

2En.  ii.  602. 
4  i.  e.  with  the  capacity  for  useful  learning,  Bacon  unites   a  sprightly 

imagination. 


[62] 

XVIII 

In  Obitum  literatissimi  juxta  ac  nobilissimi  Viri 

Frandsd  Domini  Verulam,  Vicecomitis 

Sancti  Albani. 

Occidit  ante  diem  musarum  phosphorus !  ipsa 
Occidit  ah  clarii  cura,  dolorque  Dei. 

Deliciae  (natura)  tuae ;  mundique  BACONUS  : 
Mortis  (quod  mirum  est)  ipsius  ipse  dolor. 

Quid  non  crudelis  voluit  sibi  parca  licere  ? 
Parcere  mors  vellet,  noluit  ilia  tamen. 

Melpomene  objurgans  hoc  nollet  ferre ;  deditque 
Insuper  ad  tetricas  talia  dicta  deas. 

Crudelis  nunquam  vere1  priiis  Atropos  ;  orbem 
Totum  habeas,  Phcebum  tu  modo  redde  meum. 

Hei  mihi !  nee  coelum,  nee  mors,  nee  musa  (BACONE) 
Obstabant  fatis,  nee  mea  vota  tuis. 


[53] 

xvin 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Cultured,  and,  too.  Most 

Noble  Man,  Francis  Lord  Verulam, 

Viscount  St.  Alban.1 

The  Day  star  of  the  Muses  hath  fallen  ere  his  time !  Fallen 
ah  me,  is  the  very  care  and  sorrow  of  the  Clarian  god,2  thy 
darling,  Nature,  and  the  world's  —  Bacon  :  aye  —  passing 
strange  —  the  grief  of  very  Death.  What  privilege  did  not 
the  cruel  Destiny  3  claim  ?  Death  would  fain  spare,  and  yet 
she  would  it  not.  Melpomene,  chiding,  would  not  suffer  it, 
and  spake  these  words  to  the  stern  goddesses :  "  Never  was 
Atropos  truly  heartless  before  now ;  keep  thou  all  the  world, 
only  give  my  Phoebus  back."  Ah  me,  alas !  nor  Heaven  nor 
Death  nor  the  Muse,  oh  Bacon,  nor  my  prayers  could  bar  the 
fates. 


1  Translated  into  German  by  Cantor,  p.  iv. 
3  Phcebus  is  meant. 
8  Parca. 


[54] 

XIX 

In  Obitum  ejusdem. 

Si  repetes  quantum  mundo  musisque  (BACONE) 

Donasti,  vel  si  creditor  esse  velis ; 
Conturbabit  amor,  mundus,  musseque,  Jbvisque 

Area,  preces,  ccelum,  carmina,  thura,  dolor ; 
Quid  possunt  artes,  quidve  invidiosa  vetustas  ? 

In vidiam  tandem  desinat  esse  licet : 
Sustineas  fselix,  maneasque  (BACONE)  necesse  est, 

Ah  natura  uihil,  quod  tibi  solvat,  habet. 


[55] 

XTX 

On  the  Death  of  the  Same. 

If  thou  sbalt  review  how  much  thou  hast  given  to  the  world 
and  to  the  Muses,  Bacon ;  if  thou  shouldst  care  to  be  a  cred- 
itor, then  love,  the  world,  the  Muses,  Jove's  secrets,  prayers, 
Heaven,  songs,  incense  and  grief  will  confound  the  score.1 
What  can  art  avail,  and  what  the  envious  age  ?  It  is  vouch- 
safed at  last  that  envy  should  cease  to  be.2  So  Bacon,  thou 
must  needs  preserve  thy  state  and  keep  thy  happy  lot.3  Ah, 
Nature  has  naught  to  pay  thee. 


1  Conturbabit  is  not  as  Meurer  says  (p.  104)  used  for  conturbabitur,  but  as 

in  the  sense  of  Catullus'  conturbabimus  ilia  (v.  11). 
1  Envy  cannot  hope  to  aspire  to  achievements  like  Bacon's. 
8  i.  e.  let  things  stand  as  they  are  —  do  not  attempt  such  a  reckoning. 


[66] 

XX 

In  Obitum  ejusdem,  <fec. 

Si  nisi  qui  dignus,  nemo  tua  fata  (BACONE) 
Fleret,  erit  nullus,  credito  nullus  erit. 

Plangite  jam  vere  C?io,  Cliusque  sorores, 
Ah  decima  occubuit  musa,  decusque  chori. 

Ah  nunquam  vere  infaelix  prius  ipsus  Apollo  ! 
Unde  illi  qui  sic  ilium  amet  alter  erit  ? 

Ah  numerum  non  est  habiturus ;  jamque  necesse  est, 
Contentus  musis  ut  sit  Apollo  novem. 


[57] 

XX 

On  the  Death  of  the  Same,  etc. 

If  only  the  worthy,  Bacon,  shall  lament  thy  fate,  ah  none 
will  do  it,  there  '11  be  none,  believe  me,  there  '11  be  none. 

Weep  ye  now  truly,  Clio,  and  Clio's  sisters.1  Ah,  fallen  is 
the  tenth  Muse,  the  glory  of  the  choir.  Ah  never  really  was 
Apollo  himself  unhappy  before!  When  shall  he  ever  gain 
another  so  to  love  him  ?  Ah  me !  the  full  number  he  shall 
have  no  more  :  now  must  Apollo  be  content  with  nine  Muses. 


1  This  poet  seems  to  have  been  reading  Ovid's  Art  of  Love,  i.  27,  Clio 
Cliusque  sorores. 


[58] 

XXI 

Ad  utrasque  Academias  Carmen 

Si  mea  cum  vestris  valuissent  vota  sorores, 

(Ah  venit  ante  suuin  nostra  querela  diem !) 
Non  foret  ambiguum  nostri  certamen  amoris, 

(Et  pia  nonnunquam  lis  in  amore  latet :) 
Nos  nostrum  lacrymis,  et  te  potiremur  Apollo 

Delicium  patriae  (docte  BACONE)  tuae, 
Quid  potuit  natura  magis,  virtusque  ?  dedisti 

Perpetui  fructum  nominis  inde  tui. 
Cum  legerent  nostri  pars  te  prudentior  aeri, 

Unum  jurabant  usque  decere  loqui. 
Hunc  nimium  tetricae  nobis,  vobisque  negarunt 

(Ah  sibi  quid  nolunt  saepe  licere)  deae. 
Dignus  erat  ccelo,  sed  adhuc  tellure  morari, 

Pro  tali  quas  sunt  improba  vota  viro  ? 
O  faelix  fatum !  cum  non  sit  culpa  (BACONE) 

Mortem,  sed  fselix  gloria,  flere  tuam. 
Sistite  jam  meritos  fletus,  gemitusque  sorores ; 

Non  potis  est  maestos  totus  inire  rogos. 
Et  noster,  vesterque  f  uit :  lis  inde  sequuta  est, 

Atque  uter  major  sit  dubitatur  amor, 
Communis  dolor  est,  noster,  vesterque :  jacere 

Uno  non  potuit  tanta  ruina  loco. 

GUILIEL.  LOE,  COLL.  TEINIT. 


[59] 

XXI 

A  Song  of  Consolation l  to  Both  Academies. 

If  my  prayers,  ye  Sisters,  Lad  with  yours  availed  (ah  me, 
our  plaint  hath  come  before  its  time !),  not  vain  would  be  the 
contest  of  our  love  (for  oft  in  love  resides  the  strife  of  emu- 
lous devotion)  :  we  should  have  gained  our  own  by  our  tears, 
and  thee  as  well,  Apollo,2  yes  thee,  learned  Bacon,  the  dar- 
ling of  thy  father-land.  What  could  nature  more,  or  virtue  ? 
Thou  gavest  thereby  the  meed  of  thine  unending  fame.  When 
the  wiser  part  of  our  age  read  thee,  they  swore  that  it  befitted 
thee  alone  to  speak  for  ever.  Him  3  the  too  stern  goddesses 
(ah  me,  what  prerogative  do  they  not  claim  at  every  turn  !)4 
have  denied  to  us  and  to  you.  Worthy  he  was  of  the  sky, 
but  what  prayers  for  such  a  man,  that  he  still  should  tarry 
upon  earth,  can  be  importunate  ?  Oh  happy  fate  !  since  't  is 
no  blame,  Bacon,  but  joyful  eulogy  to  mourn  thy  death.5  Stay 
now,  ye  sisters,  your  just  plaints  and  sighs.  He  cannot  all  6 
ascend  the  melancholy  bier.  He  was  both  ours  and  yours :  a 
strife  is  thence  arisen,  and 't  is  in  doubt  which  love  the  greater 
be.  The  grief  is  common,  ours  and  yours :  such  rum  could 
not  descend  upon  one  place  alone. 

WILLIAM  LOE,  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE. 

1  Harleian  Misc.  has  itapafj.v8iriitbv ;  Blackbourne,  7ra/>a/ti;5?7T»/c2>x. 

2  Bacon  is  identified  with  Apollo. 

3  Sudden  shift  of  the  pronoun  ;  perhaps  the  poet  now  addresses  the  pars 
prudentior  to  whom  he  has  just  referred. 

4  ah  sibi  quid  nolunt  scepe  licere  ;  cf.  quid  non  crudelis  voluit  sibi  Parca 
licere,  Poem  XVIII,  5  by  the  same  author. 

6  It  would  be  blameworthy  to  mourn  the  gods'  dispensation  in  any  other 
case,  but  here  where  Bacon  is  to  reign  exalted,  sorrow  turns  to  praise. 
Cf.  Statius  on  Lucan's  birthday,  Silv.  ii.  7,  135,  quidquid  fleverat  ante, 
nunc  adoret. 

6  Horace's  non  omnis  moriar. 


[60] 

XXII 

In  Obitum  illustrissimi  Domini  Verulamii,  Vice- 
comitis  Sancti  Albani. 

Dum  scripturivit  multum  Verulamius  heros, 

Imbuit  et  crebis  saecla  voluminibus  : 
Viderat  exultos  mors  dudum  exosa  libellos, 

Scripta  nee  infaelix  tarn  numerosa  tulit. 
Odit  enim  ingenii  monumenta  perennia,  quseque 

Funeros  spernunt  a-umla  scripta  rogos. 
Ergo  dum  calamum  libravit  dextera,  dumque 

Lassavit  teneras  penna  diserta  manus ; 
Nee  turn  finitam  signarat  pagina  chartam 

Ultima,  cum  nigrum  Theta  coronis  erat : 
Attamen  et  vivent  seros  aditura  nepotes, 

Morte  vel  inita,  scripta  (BACONE)  tua. 

JACOBUS  DUPOBT,  T.  C. 


[61] 

XXII 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Illustrious  Lord  Verulam, 
Viscount  St.  Alban. 

While  the  hero  of  Verulam  desired  much  to  write,  and 
showered  the  age  with  frequent  volumes,  death  long  looked 
upon  the  careful  books  in  hate,  nor  could  that  accursed  one 
tolerate  so  many  works.  For  he  hated  talent's  enduring  mon- 
uments, and  the  emulous  writings  that  scorn  funereal  pyres. 
And  yet,  though  thy  fingers  held  the  pen  in  poise,1  and  though 
the  eloquent  reed  wearied  thy  feeble  hand,  though  still  un- 
finished was  thy  manuscript,  which  the  last  page  had  signed 
(since  black  Theta*  was  the  flourish)  yet  shall  thy  writings, 
Bacon,  live  and  reach  thy  descendants  late  in  time,  even  in 

spite  of  death. 

JAMES  DUPOBT,  T.  C. 

(i.  e.  OF  TBINITT  COLLEGE.) 


1  i.  e.  could  write  no  more. 

1  The  Sourish  after  the  last  word  was  a  Theta  for  6i.va.Tos, '  death.' 


[62] 
XXIII 

Ad  Viatorem,  Honoratissimi  Domini,  Francisci 
Domini  Verulam,  Monumentum  inspidentem. 

Marmore  Pieridum  gelido  Phoebique  choragum 
Inclusumne  putes,  stulte  viator  ?  abi : 

Fallere  :  jam  rutilo  Verulamia  fulget  Olympo : 
Sidere  splendet l  APER  magne  JACOBE  tuo. 


1  V.  Insignia  gent.  Bacon. 


[63] 

XXIII 

To  the  Traveler  who  mews  the  Monument  of  the  Most 
Honored  Sir,  Francis,  Lord  Verulam. 

Dost  think,  stupid  traveler,  that  the  choragus  of  Phoebus 
and  the  Muses'  band  is  confined  in  this  chill  marble  ?  Avaunt ! 
Thou  art  deceived,  Verulam J  now  shines  in  ruddy  Olympus : 
the  boar,  great  JAMES,  now  glittereth  in  thy  sign. 


1  Verulamia  may  mean  '  the  sidereal  Verulam '  (the  manor)  or,  under- 
standing stella,  'the  Verulamian  star';  Bacon's  soul  possesses  a  star 
as  that  of  Caesar  and  that  of  James  did. 


[64] 
XXIV 

In  Obitum  illustrissimi  et  spectatissimi  turn  ct,  lAteris 

turn  &  Prudentia  et  nativct  Nobilitate  Viri,  Domini 

Frandsci  Bacon,  Vicecomitis  Sancti  Albani,  &c. 

Non  ego,  non  Naso  si  viveret  ipse,  litaret 

Exequiis  versu  magne  BACONE  tuis. 
Deduct!  veniunt  versus  a  mente  serena, 

Nubila  sunt  fato  pectora  nostra  tuo. 
Replesti  mundum  scriptis,  et  saecula  fama, 

Ingredere  in  requiem,  quando  ita  dulce,  tuam. 
Et  tibi  doctrinae  exaltatio  scripta  (BACONE) 

Exaltat  toto  jam  caput  orbe  tuum. 
Curta  cano,  quin  nulla  magis ;  sin  carmina  vitro. 

Te  reparare  tuse,  quanta  (BACONE)  darem  ? 

C.  D.  REGAL. 


[65] 

XXIV 

On  the  Death  of  the  Man  Most  Illustrious  and  Emi- 
nent, both  in  Letters  and  in  Sagacity  and  in 
Native  NobUity,  Sir  Francis  Bacon, 
Viscount  St.  Alban. 

Not  I,  no  not  Ovid,  were  lie  alive,  could  pay  the  tribute  of 
his  verse,  great  Bacon,  to  thine  obsequies.  Verse  comes  when 
drawn  from  a  mind  serene :  our  breast  is  clouded  by  thy  fate. 
Thou  hast  filled  the  world  with  thy  works  and  the  ages  with 
thy  fame :  enter  then,  since  it  is  so  sweet,  into  thy  rest.  Aye, 
the  exaltation  of  learning,1  written,  Bacon,  by  thee,  exalts  now 
thine  own  head  throughout  the  world.  Short  is  my  song ; 
nay,  it  is  nothing.  But  if  songs  could  restore  thee  to  life,  ah 
Bacon,  how  many  would  I  give ! 

C.  D.  OF  KING'S  COLLEGE  (CAMBRIDGE). 


Referring  to  the  Advancement  of  Learning. 


[66] 

XXV 

In  Obitum  honoratissimi  Domini,  Domini  Frandsci 
Baronis  de  Verulamio,  Vicecomitis  S.  Albani. 

Qui  f  uit  legis  moderator,  ilia 
Lege  solutus,  reus  ipse  mortis 
Sistitur,  nostram  politeia  turbat 

Sic  Radamanthi. 

Qui  Novo  summum  sophiae  magistrum 
Organo  tandem  docuisset  uti 
Mortis  antiqua  methodo  coactus 

Membra  resolvit. 

Quippe  praemissis  valide  novicis 
Parca  conclusum  voluit  supremum 
Huic  diem,  sensus  ratione  f  atis 

Insit  iniquis. 

Multa  qui  baud  uno  revelanda  seclo 
KpuTrro.  naturae  patefecit,  ipse 
Justa  naturae  facili  novercae 

Debita  solvit. 

Artium  tandem  meliore  vena 
Occidit  plenus,  moriensque  monstrat 
Quam  siet  longa  ars,  brevis  atque  vita, 
Fama  perennis; 

Qui  fuit  nostro  rutilans  in  orbe 
Lucifer,  magnos  et  honoris  egit 
Circulos,  transit,  proprioque  fulget 
Fixus  in  orbe. 


[67] 

XXV 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Honored  Gentleman,  Sir 
Francis,  Baron  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban. 

He  that  was  governor  of  law,  now  from  that  law  set  free, 
himself  is  brought  before  death's  bar ;  thus  does  the  realm 
of  Erhadamanthus  confound  our  own.  He  that  at  last  had 
taught  the  greatest  master  of  wisdom1  to  use  a  New  Or- 
ganon,  constrained  by  death's  ancient  mode,  hath  loosed  his 
limbs.  Verily  Destiny,  from  most  vicious  premises,  hath 
willed  as  the  conclusion  his  last  day,  to  show  if  sense  or  rea- 
son dwell  in  the  unjust  fates.  He  who  disclosed  many  of 
Nature's  hidden  things,  to  be  revealed  to  not  one  age  alone, 
himself  to  Nature,  kindly  Stepdame,  hath  paid  his  bounden 
dues.  At  last  then  he  is  fallen,  filled  with  art's  richer  vein, 
and  dying  shows  how  long  is  art,  how  fleeting  life,  and  how 
undying  fame.  He  who  was  the  ruddy  day  star  in  our  world 
and  through  the  great  orbits  of  honor  drove,  hath  passed 
beyond  and  shineth  fixed  in  his  own  sphere. 


1  i.  e.  Aristotle. 


[68] 

XXVI 

Carmen  Sepulchrale. 

Sub  tumulo  est  corpus,  (non  debita  prseda  sepulchri) 
Virtutum  exterius  nomina  marmor  habet ; 

Sic  pia  saxa  loqui  docuit  vestigia  figens 
Marmore  in  hoc  virtus,  ipsa  datura  f  ugam : 

Nostra  dabunt  tumulumque  seternum  corda,  loquantur 
Ut  f  amain  illius  saxa  hominesque  simul. 

HENK.  FERNE,  TBIN.  COLL.  Soc. 


[69] 

XXVI 

Burial  Hymn. 

Under  the  mound  is  the  body  (the  grave's  unmerited  prize  ; ) 
the  title  of  his  virtues  the  outer  marble  holds.  Thus  hath 
virtue,  making  its  impress  on  this  marble,  taught  the  pious 
stones  to  speak,  the  while  herself  prepares  for  flight.  And 
our  hearts,  too,  will  offer  an  eternal  tomb,  that  stones  and  men 
alike  may  speak  his  fame. 

HENRY  FERNE  (FELLOW  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE). 


[70] 

XXVII 

Ad  statuam  literatissimi  vereque  nobilissimi    Viri 
Domini  Francisci  Bacon. 

Octoginta  negat  qui  te  numerasse  Decembres, 

Frontem,  non  libros  inspicit  ille  tuos  : 
Nam  virtus  si  cana  sanem,  si  serta  Minerva*, 

Iveddant ;  vel  natu  Nestore  major  eras. 
Quod  si  forma  neget,  veterum  sapientia  monstret ; 

Longsevae  aetatis  tessera  certa  tiue. 
Vivere  namque  diu  cornicum  condere  lustra 

Non  est,  sed  vita  posse  priore  frui. 

G.  NASH,  AUL.  PEM. 


[71] 

xx  vn 

On  the  Statue  of  the  Most  Lettered  and  Truly  Noble 
Man,  Sir  Francis  Bacon. 

He  that  denies  that  thou  hast  numbered  eighty  Decembers, 
looks  upon  thy  forehead,  not  upon  thy  books.  For  if  hoary 
virtue,  if  Minerva's  garlands  can  make  old,  then  wast  thou 
Nestor's  elder.  Yes,  if  thy  features  refuse,  let  the  wisdom 
of  the  ancients  show  it  —  a  certain  token  of  thy  lengthy  life. 
For  to  live  long  is  not  to  fulfil  the  luster's 1  of  the  crow,  but  to 
have  power  to  enjoy  past  life. 

G.  NASH,  PEMBROKE  HALL  (CAMBRIDGE.) 


[i  Luster  =  literally  a  period  of  five  years,  i.  e.  ages.] 


[72] 

XXVIII 
JDe  Inundatione  nuperci  Aquarum. 

Solverat  Eridanus  tumidarum  flumina  aquarum : 

Solverat ;  et  populis  non  levis  horror  erat : 
Quippe  gravis  Pyrrhce  metuentes  tempora  cladis 

Credebant  simili  crescere  flumen  aqua. 
Hie  dolor  fuerat  saevus,  lachrymjeque  futuri 

Funcris,  et  justis  dona  paranda  novis. 
Scilicet  et  fluvios  tua  (vir  celeberrime)  tangunt 

Funera,  nedum  homines,  mcestaque  corda  virura. 

JAMES. 


[73] 

xxvni 

On  the  Recent  Flood. 

Eridanus  had  unbarred  his  swollen  waters'  streams.  He  had 
unbarred  them :  and  to  the  nations,  that  was  no  slight  alarm : 
fearing  in  sooth,  the  times  of  Pyrrha's  fell  disaster,1  they 
thought  the  river  grew  with  similar  flood.  That  was  but  a 
savage  sorrow,  and  tears  for  the  coming  death  —  an  offering 
made  ready  for  the  newly  sainted.  In  sooth,  renowned  man, 
thy  fate  moves  streams  to  sorrow,  not  to  speak  of  humankind 

and  the  sad  hearts  of  men. 

JAMES. 


1  cf.  Horace,  Carm.  i.  2,  5. 


[74] 

XXIX 

In  Obitum  honoratissimi  Viri  Francisci  Bacon,  Vice- 
comitis  Sancti  Albani,  Baronis  de  Verulam,  (fee. 

Ergo  te  quoque  flemus  ?  et  asternare  Camcenas 

Qui  poteras,  poteras  ipse  (BACONE)  mori  ? 
Ergo  nee  aetherea  f ruerere  diutius  aura  ? 

(Indigni  scriptis  Ventus  et  Aura  tuis ;) 
Scilicet  indomiti  tandem  vesania  fati 

Placari  voluit  nobiliore  rogo : 
Ssevaque  vulgares  jam  dedignata  triumphos 

Ostendit  nimio  plus  licuisse  sibi ; 
Unaque  lux  tanti  nunc  luctus  conscia,  peste 

lusolitu  quanti  nee  prior  annus  erat. 

R.  L. 


[75] 

XXIX 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Honored  Man  Francis 
Bacon,  Viscount  St.  Alban,  Baron  Verulam,  etc. 

Shall  we  then  mourn  for  thee  as  well?  Thou  who  couldst 
immortalize  the  Muses,  couldst  thou  thyself,  oh  Bacon,  die  ? 
Shalt  thou  then  no  more  exult  in  the  breezes  of  heaven? 
(Breezes  and  wind  unworthy  of  thy  writing !)  l  In  sooth  the 
rage  of  unconquered  fate  wished  to  be  appeased  at  last  by 
a  more  noble  pyre,  and  fiercely  spurning  triumphs  already 
commonplace  showed  all  too  well  that  this  was  in  her  power. 
Yes,  this  one  day  is  conscious  now  of  such  a  woe  as  the  past 

year  with  its  unwonted  ruin  was  not. 

R.  L. 


1  Alludes  to  the  Historia  Ventorum. 


[76] 

XXX 

In  Obitum  nobilissimi  Viri,  Francisci  Baconis,  olim 
Magni  Sigilli  Anglice  Custodis. 

Quid  ?  an  apud  deos  coorta  lis  f  uit  ? 
An  semulum  senex  Saturnus  filium 
Jovem  vocavit  in  jus,  rursus  expetens 
Regnum  ?  sed  illic  advocatum  non  habens 
Relinquit  astra,  pergens  in  terras  iter, 
Ubi  citb  invenit  parem  sibi  virum, 
BACONEM  scilicet,  quern  falce  demetens 
Jus  exequi  coegit  inter  angelos, 
Et  ipsum  se  Jbvemque  filium  suum. 
Quid  ?  an  prudentia  BACONIS  indigent 
Dei  ?  vel  liquerit  deos  Astrcea  ? 
Ita  est :  abivit :  ipsaque  astra  deserens, 
Ministrabatur  huic  BACONI  sedule. 
Saturnus  ipse  non  felicioribus 
Degebat  sevum  saeculis,  quibus  nomen 
Vel  aureum  fuit,  (sunt  hsec  poetica) 
Quam  judicante  nos  BACONE  degimus : 
Beatis  ergo  nobis  numina  invidentia, 
Volebant  gaudium  hoc  commune  demere : 
Abiit,  abiit :  sat  hoc  doloribus  meis 
Est  protulisse :  non  dixi  est  mortuus : 
Quid  est  opus  jam  vestimentis  atris  ?  en  en 
Arundo  nostra  tinctura  fluit  nigra ; 
Camcenarumque  fons  siccum  se  fecerit, 
In  lacrymas  minutas  se  dispertiens  : 
Frequentibusque  nimbis  Aprills  madet 
Dolores  innuens :  quippe  insolentius 


[77] 

XXX 

On  the  Death  of  the  Most  Noble  Man,  Francis  Bacon) 
sometime  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal  of  England. 

What?  Hath  strife  arisen  among  the  gods?  Hath  then  old 
Saturn  called  Jove,  his  emulous  son,  to  court,  suing  again 
for  his  realm  ?  But  having  no  advocate  there,  he  left  the 
stars,  winning  his  way  to  the  earth,  where  speedily  he  found 
him  a  meet  man,  Bacon,  in  sooth,  whom  mowing  with  his 
scythe,1  he  forced  to  champion  his  suit  before  the  angels, 
before  his  very  self  and  Jove  his  son.  What  ?  Do  gods  need 
Bacon's  skill  ?  Or  has  Astraea  left  the  gods  ?  So  it  is :  she 
went  away,  and  leaving  the  very  stars  was  sedulously  minis- 
tering to  Bacon  here.  Saturn  himself  in  no  more  prosperous 
ages  passed  his  time — those  that  were  given  the  name  of 
gold  in  poets'  idle  tales 2  —  than  we  have  spent  when  Bacon 
was  our  judge.  Therefore  the  powers  envying  our  bliss, 
wished  to  deprive  us  of  this  common  joy.  He  has  gone,  he 
has  gone,  'T  is  enough  for  my  grief  to  have  uttered  this  much : 
I  said  not,  "  He  is  dead."  What  need  of  black  raiment  is 
there  any  more  ?  See,  see,  our  reed  flows  with  black  tincture : 
the  Muses'  fountain  will  run  dry,  disporting  in  tiny  tears, 
and  April  drips  with  many  a  cloud,  thus  intimating  woe. 


1  A  tasteless  confusion  of  Saturn's  sickle  with  the  scythe  of  Death. 

2  This  is  the  connotation  of  haec  sunt  poetica. 


[78] 

Furit  f raterna  ventorum  discordia : 
Uterque  scilicet  gemeus  non  desinit 
Ab  intus  altius  suspirium  trahens, 
O  omnibus  bone,  ut  videntur  omnia 
Amasse  te  virum,  et  dolere  mortuum ! 

HENB.  OCKLET,  C.  TR. 


[79] 

Immoderately  rude,  I  ween,  rages  the  brotherly  discord  of  the 
winds :  each  verily  stays  not  its  moans,  drawing  from  within 
a  deeper  sigh.  Oh  thou  good  to  all,  how  all  things  seem  to 
have  loved  thee  living  and  to  mourn  thee  dead ! 

HENRY  OCKLET,  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE. 


[80] 

XXXI 

In  Languorum  diuturnumy  sed  Mortem  inopinatam, 
nobilissimi  Domini  sui,  Vicecomitis  Sancti  Albani. 

Mors  prius  aggressa  est,  f  uit  inde  repulsa ;  putabam. 

Incepti  et  sceleris  poenituisse  sui. 
Callidus  obsessas  ut  miles  deserit  urbes 

Incautis  posito  quo  ferat  arma  metu ; 
Mors  pariter  multum  hunc  vulnus  defendere  doctum, 

Averse  a  musis  lumine  saeva  ferit. 
Quani  cupiam  lacrymis  oculos  absumere  totos ; 

Nostra  sed  heu  libris  lumina  servo  suis. 
Sic  maculis  chartam  lugentum  emittere  cordi  est ; 

Nil  sails  hie  nisi  quod  lacryma  salsa  dedit. 

GTJIL.  ATKINS, 
dominationis  suce  servus  domesticus. 


[81] 

XXXI 

On  the  Long  Illness  but   Unexpected  Death  of  the 
Most  Noble  Lord,1  Viscount  St.  Alban. 

Death  first  drew  nigh,  and  then  was  driven  hence.  Me- 
thought  he  had  repented  of  his  errand  and  his  crime.  As 
the  shrewd  soldier  deserts  beleaguered  towns,  again  to  attack 
them  when  the  unwary  townsmen  have  discarded  fear,  Death 
in  like  manner,  seeing  him  skilful  to  fend  off  the  wound, 
struck  cruelly  when  he  had  turned  his  eyes  from  the  Muses. 
How  would  I  fain  waste  my  whole  sight  in  tears :  but,  ah  me, 
I  guard  my  eyes  for  their  own  2  books.  Thus  am  I  glad  to 
send  forth  this  page  with  mourning  stains :  no  [Attic]  salt  is 
here,  save  what  a  salt  tear  gives. 

WILLIAM  ATKINS, 
HOUSEHOLD  SERVANT  OF  HIS  LORDSHIP. 


1  Or,  '  of  his  (i.  e.  the  writer's)  most  noble  Master.' 
a  i.  e.  the  books  they  so  love  —  the  works  of  Bacon. 


[82] 

XXXII 

In  Obitum  Domini  Frandsci  Baconi,  Baronis  de 
Verulamio  et  totius  Angliae  nuperi  Cancellarii. 

Duni  moriens  tantam  nostris  Verulamius  heros 

Tristitiain  musis,  luminaque  uda  facit : 
Credimus  heu  uulluin  fieri  post  fata  beatum, 

Credimus  et  Samium  desipuisse  senem. 
Scilicet  hie  miseris  foelix  nequit  esse  Camoenis 

Nee  se  quam  musas  plus  amat  iste  suas. 
At  luctantem  animam  Clotho  imperiosa  coegit. 

Ad  ccelum  invitos  traxit  in  astra  pedes. 
Ergone  Phcebeias  jacuisse  putabimus  artes  ? 

Atque  herbas  Clarii  nil  valuisse  dei  ? 
Phoebus  idem  potuit,  nee  virtus  abfuit  herbis, 

Hunc  artem  atque  illas  vim  retinere  putes : 
At  Phosbum  (ut  metuit  ne  rex  f oret  iste  Camoenis) 

Rivali  medicam  crede  negasse  manum. 
Huic  dolor  est ;  quod  cum  Phcebe  Verulamius  heros 

Major  erat  reliquis,  hac  foret  arte  minor. 
Vos  tamen,  6,  tantum  manes  atque  umbra,  Camoence, 

Et  pene  inferni  pallida  turba  Jovis, 
Si  spiratis  adhuc,  et  non  lusistis  ocellos, 

Sed  neque  post  ilium  vos  superesse  putem : 
Si  vos  ergo  aliquis  de  morte  reduxerit  Orpheus, 


[83] 

XXXII 

On  the  Death  of  Sir  Francis  Bacon,  Baron  Verulam 
and  late  Chancellor  of  all  England"  l 

Since  Verulam's  hero,  dying,  hath  brought  to  our  Muses  such 
sadness  and  wet  eyes,  we  think,  ah  me,  that  no  man  can  be 
happy  after  death ;  we  think  insensate  the  Samian  old  man.2 
He 3  verily  cannot  be  happy  when  the  Muses  are  abject,  nor 
does  he  love  himself  more  than  his  own  Muses.  But  imperi- 
ous Clotho  forced  his  struggling  soul  to  heaven,  and  dragged 
him  with  reluctant  feet  to  the  stars.  Shall  then  we  think 
that  Phosbus'  arts  are  fallen,  that  the  herbs  of  the  Clarian 
god  4  have  lost  their  strength  ?  Such  power  had  Phoebus,  nor 
did  those  herbs  lack  virtue  ;  believe  it,  he  kept  his  art,  and 
they  their  potency.  But  know  that  Phoebus  (as  he  feared 
that  Bacon  should  be  king  among  the  Muses)  refused  to  his 
rival  his  healing  hand.  Hence  is  this  woe.  For  while  Veru- 
lam's hero  exceeded  Phoebus  in  other  arts,  in  this  art5  was 
he  less.  You  though,  oh  ye  Muses,  were  ghosts  and  shade,  and 
now  well-nigh  the  pallid  troop  of  the  infernal  Jove,6  if  ye  yet 
breathe,  and  have  not  mocked  mine  eyes  (though  I  could  not 
think  that  after  him  you  could  survive) ;  if  then  some  Or- 
pheus shall  bring  you  back  from  the  dead,  and  you  are  not  an 

1  Translated  into  German  by  Cantor,  p.  x,  also  into  English  by  the  same 

writer  in  his  Resurrectio  Divi  Quirini. 
9  i.  e.  Pythagoras,  whose  doctrines  emphasized  the  belief  in  a  blessed 

immortality. 
*  i.  e.  Bacon. 

4  i.  e.  Apollo,  here  in  his  character  as  god  of  healing. 

5  i.  e.  in  the  art  of  healing. 

6  i.  e.  after  Bacon's  death  the  Muses  are  in  danger  of  being  reduced  to 
the  ranks  of  the  infernal  deities. 


[84] 

Istaque  non  aciem  fallit  imago  meam : 
Discite  nunc  gemitus  et  lamentabile  carmen, 

Ex  oculis  vestris  lacryma  multa  fluat. 
En  quam  multa  fluit  ?  veras  agnosco  Camoenas 

Et  lacrymas,  Helicon  vix  satis  unus  erit ; 
Deucalionceis  et  qui  non  mersus  in  undis 

Parnassus  (mirum  est)  hisce  latebit  aquis. 
Scilicet  hie  periit,  per  quem  vos  vivitis,  et  qui 

Multa  Pierias  nutriit  arte  deas. 
Vidit  ut  hie  artes  nulla  radice  retentas, 

Languere  ut  suinmo  semina  sparsa  solo ; 
Crescere  Pegaseas  docuit,  velut  hasta  Quirini 

Crevit,  et  exiguo  tempore  Laurus  erat. 
Ergo  Heliconiadas  docuit  cum  crescere  divas, 

Diminuent  hujus  secula  nulla  decus. 
Nee  ferre  ulterius  generosi  pectoris  aestus 

Contemptum  potuit,  diva  Minerva,  tuum. 
JRestituit  calamus  solitum  divinus  honorem 

Dispulit  et  nubes  alter  Apollo  tuas. 

Dispulit  et  tenebras  sed  quas  obf  usca  vetustas 

Temporis  et  prisci  lippa  senecta  tulet ; 
Atque  alias  methodos  sacrum  instauravit  acumen, 

Gnossiaque  eripuit,  sed  sua  fila  dedit. 
Scilicet  antiquo  sapientum  vulgus  in  seto 

Tarn  claros  oculos  non  habuisse  liquet ; 
Hi  velut  Eoo  surgens  de  littore  Phoebus, 

Hie  velut  in  media  f  ulget  Apollo  die : 
Hi  veluti  Tiphys  tentarunt  sequora  primum, 

At  vix  deseruit  littora  prima  ratis, 
Pleiadas  hie  Hyadasque  atque  omnia  sydera  noscens, 

Syrtes,  atque  tuos,  improba  Scylla,  canes ; 


[85  ] 

image  that  deceives  my  sight,1  learn  ye  now  groans  and  songs 
of  lamentation :  let  many  a  tear  flow  from  your  eyes.  Look 
ye,  how  many  have  flowed !  I  recognize  the  very  Muses  and 
their  tears :  one  Helicon  will  scarcely  be  enough.  Parnassus,2 
too,  that  was  not  buried  in  Deucalion's  waves  —  a  thing  of 
marvel  —  will  hide  within  these  waters.  In  sooth  he  has  per- 
ished through  whom  ye  live,  he  who  hath  fed  the  Pierian 
goddesses  with  rich  art.  When  he  saw  the  arts  here  held  by 
no  root  and  languishing  like  seeds  scattered  on  top  of  the 
soil,  he  taught  the  Pegasean  Maids  3  to  grow  even  as  the  spear 
of  Romulus  grew  and  in  short  time  was  a  bay.  So  since  he 
taught  the  Heliconian  goddesses  to  grow,  no  ages  will  lessen 
his  renown.  Nor  could  the  fire  of  a  well  born  breast,  bear 
further,  divine  Minerva,  men's  neglect  of  thee.  His  heavenly 
reed  4  restored  thy  wonted  honor  ;  a  second  Apollo  routed  thy 
clouds.  He  routed  the  shadows,  too :  aye,  those  brought  on 
by  dusky  old  age  and  the  blear  senility  of  a  former  time. 
And  other  methods  did  his  divine  sagacity  restore :  he  tore 
the  Cretan  skein  away,  but  gave  one  of  his  own.6  In  sooth 
't  is  clear  that  in  antique  days  the  troop  of  wise  men  had  not 
such  clear  eyes.  They  were  like  Pho3bus  rising  from  the 
orient  shore ;  he  like  Apollo  shining  at  mid-day.  They  first 
like  Tiphys 6  essayed  the  seas,  but  the  bark  scarce  left  the 
nearest  shores ;  he  discerning  Pleiades  and  Hyades  and  all  the 
stars,  the  Syrtes,  and,  Scylla,  thy  hounds,  knows  what  is  to  be 

1  istaque  non  aciem  fallit  imago  meam :  or  '  if  such  a  picture  does  not 

deceive  my  sight'  (Cantor). 

2  The  only  mountain  not  covered  in  the  flood. 

8  Understand  divas  '  goddesses '  as  Heliconiadas —  divas  follows.    Cantor 
supplies  artes  from  the  second  line  above. 


4 


i.  e.  pen. 


8  Alluding  to  the  story  of  Ariadne  and  Theseus. 

8  The  pilot  of  the  Argo,  according  to  one  tradition  the  first  man  to  sail  a 
ship  across  the  seas. 


[86] 

Scit  quod  vitandum  est,  quo  dirigat  aequore  navem, 

Certius  et  cursum  nautica  monstrat  acus : 
Infantes  illi  Musas,  hie  gignit  adultas  ; 

Mortales  illi,  gignit  at  iste  deas. 
Falmam  ideo  reliquis  Magna  Instauratio  libris 

Abstulit,  et  cedunt  squalida  turba  sophi. 
Et  vestita  novo  Pallas  modo  prod  it  amictu 

Anguis  depositis  ut  nitet  exuviis. 
Sic  Phoenix  cineres  spectat  modo  nata  paternos, 

^Esonis  et  rediit  prima  iuventa  senis. 
Instaurata  suos  et  sic  Verulamia  muros 

lactat,  et  antiquum  sperat  ab  inde  decus. 

Sed  quanta  effulgent  plus  quam  mortalis  ocelli 
Lumina,  dum  regni  mystica  sacra  canat  ? 

Dum  sic  naturae  leges,  arcanaque  regum, 
Tanquam  a  secretis  esset  utrisque,  canat ; 

Dum  canat  Benricum,  qui  rex  idemque  sacerdos, 
Connubio  stabili  iunxit  utramque  rosam. 

Atqui  hsec  sunt  nostris  longe  maiora  Camcenis, 

Non  haec  infaelix  Granta,  sed  Aula  sciat : 
Sed  cum  Granta  labris  admoverit  ubera  tantis 

lus  habet  in  laudes  (maxime  alumne)  tuas. 
lus  habet,  ut  moestos  lacrymis  extingueret  ignes, 

Posset  ut  e  medio  diripuisse  rogo. 
At  nostrae  tibi  nulla  ferrat  encomia  musae, 

Ipse  canis,  laudes,  qua  possumus  arte,  canemus, 
Si  tamen  ars  desit,  laus  erit  iste  dolor. 

TH.  RANDOLPH,  T.  C. 


[87] 

shunned,  and  on  what  waters  to  guide  the  ship ;  for  him  more 
certainly  the  mariner's  needle  points  the  course.  They  begat 
infant  Muses,  he  adult:  they,  mortal,  but  he  goddesses. 
Therefore  his  Magna  Instauratio  snatched  the  palm  from 
other  books,  and  the  sages,  squalid  throng,  now  slink  away. 
Aye,  even  now  Pallas  steps  forth,  clad  in  new  robe,  as  a  snake 
glistens  when  he  sloughs  off  his  coat.  Thus  the  new  born 
Phoenix  gazes  on  his  paternal  ashes ;  thus  to  old  Aeson  his 
pristine  youth  returns ;  thus  too  Verulam,1  restored,  disports 
its  walls  and  hopes  therefrom  its  ancient  glory. 

But  how  large  shine  his  eyes,  with  glance  more  bright  than 
that  of  a  mortal,  while  he  sings  the  sacred  mysteries  of  the 
realm  ;  while  he  so  sings  of  Nature's  laws  and  princes'  secrets, 
as  though  he  were  privy  councillor  2  of  them  both ;  while  he 
sings  of  Henry,  who  king  and  priest  as  well,  united  in  firm 
wedlock  either  rose.3 

But  such  strains  are  by  far  too  lofty  for  our  Muse.4  Let 
not  unhappy  Granta 6  know  them,  but  the  court.6  But  since 
Granta  moved  her  breasts  to  lips  so  eminent,  she  hath  a  right, 
thou  mighty  fosterling,  to  thy  praise.  She  hath  a  right  to 
quench  the  melancholy  fires  with  her  tears,  a  right  to  snatch 
thee  from  the  mid-pyre.  Yet,  after  all,  our  Muse  can  bring 
thee  no  encomium  ;  thou  thyself  art  singer 7  and  singest,  there- 

1  i.  e.  the  Manor. 

2  A  secretis  =  '  privy  councillor '  (Geheimrat)  just  as  ab  epistulis  =  '  scribe ' 

—  as  Meurer  (p.  Ill)  well  remarks. 
8  Alluding  to  Bacon's  History  of  Henry  VII. 

4  An  unexpected  touch  of  Horatian  modesty  (C.  iii.  3,  end). 

5  Another  name  for  the  Cam ;  here  denotes   the  University  of  Cam- 

bridge. 
•  i.  e.  this  touching  lay  is  too  sad  a  strain  for  Bacon's  alma  mater :  let  the 

court  sing,  let  lamentation  turn  to  eulogy. 
7  Not  necessarily   '  poet.'  Bacon   '  sings '   the   history   of  Henry  VII. 

(v.  nine  lines  above). 


[88] 

fore,  thine  own  praise.  Notwithstanding  we  will  sing  thy 
praise  with  whatsoever  art  we  can  :  and  if  art  fail,  this  grief 
will  still  be  eulogy. 

THOMAS  RANDOLPH,  T.  C. 

(£.  e-  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE). 


Italics  in  Latin  text  follow  Blackbourne,  Works  of  Bacon, 
London,  1730,  vol.  i.  pp.  204-217. 


FINIS. 


(£bc  nil 

Eltctrotyped  and  printed  by  H.  O.  Houghton.  &•  Co. 
Cambridge,  Mast.,  U.S.  A. 


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